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  • Slang and its analogues past and present, volume 3 [of 7] : A dictionary, historical and comparative, of the heterodox speech of all classes of society for more than three hundred years. With synonyms in English, French, German, Italian, etc.
Slang and its analogues past and present, volume 3 [of 7] : A dictionary, historical and comparative, of the heterodox speech of all classes of society for more than three hundred years. With synonyms in English, French, German, Italian, etc.

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Slang and its analogues past and present, volume 3 [of 7] : A dictionary, historical and comparative, of the heterodox speech of all classes of society for more than three hundred years. With synonyms in English, French, German, Italian, etc.

by John Stephen Farmer, William Ernest Henley

EN·~20 hours·2 chapters

Chapters

2 total

Slang and its Analogues Past and Present. - A Dictionary, Historical and Comparative, of the Heterodox Speech of all Classes of Society for more than Three Hundred Years. - WITH SYNONYMS IN ENGLISH, FRENCH, GERMAN, ITALIAN, ETC.

20:51:53

Colophon - Availability

5:47

Description

Explore three centuries of informal speech with a meticulously assembled lexicon that maps the evolution of slang across all layers of society. Drawing from newspapers, literature, and street chatter, each entry records a word’s definition, earliest citation, and cultural context. The work also lines up equivalents in French, German, Italian and other tongues, showing how lively expressions travel and transform across borders.

Volume III spans the alphabetic range from “Fla” to “Hyps,” offering vivid snapshots of terms like “flabbergasted,” the surprise‑filled verb that entered print in the 1770s, or “flag,” which once denoted a four‑penny coin, an apron, and even a tongue‑in‑cheek reference to menstruation. Quotations from period sources illustrate how these words sounded in everyday conversation, while the multilingual synonym lists let listeners compare English usage with its French, German or Italian parallels. For anyone fascinated by the hidden histories behind the words we toss around, this audio guide provides both scholarly depth and entertaining anecdotes.

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Details

Language

en

Duration

~20 hours (1207K characters)

Release date

Dec 10, 2024

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the authors

John Stephen Farmer

John Stephen Farmer

1854–1916

Best known for his groundbreaking work on English slang, this Victorian-era writer and lexicographer helped preserve the lively language of everyday speech. He also had a strong interest in rare early plays, bringing older texts back into view for later readers.

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William Ernest Henley

William Ernest Henley

1849–1903

Best known for the unforgettable poem "Invictus," this English writer also made his mark as a critic and editor with a strong eye for new talent. His life was shaped by illness, resilience, and a bold literary voice that still feels direct today.

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